CNN anchor Anderson Cooper co-anchored The University of Memphisbroadcasting students' laboratory newscast during his campus visitTuesday.
It is extremely rare for such high-caliber speakers andreporters to participate in activities with students, said DanaRosengard, broadcasting professor.
"Usually they just come to speak, but this man is going aboveand beyond," he said. "He is a powerful person in our professionand to have him on our campus helping students is amazing."
Some students said they gained a great deal of insight from thebroadcasting lab.
"It's one thing to hear it from your professor and another thingto hear it from someone on CNN," said Terah Chin, seniorbroadcasting major. "He really talked to us about what to expectoutside the classroom."
Giving students an idea of what to expect in "the real world"was Cooper's goal when he came to talk to students, he said. He wason campus as the guest speaker for the annual Freedom ofInformation Congress, which was given last night in the RoseTheatre.
"It's so hard to break into the business and start out," Coopersaid. "I really wanted students to understand what to expect whenthey are in the actual setting outside of class."
Cooper also advised students on how to behave in front of thecamera.
"Your job is not to read a prompter but to create an atmosphereand moment for viewers," he said. "Successful anchors are able tobuild a relationship with the viewers and be hip to what's going onbeyond the script."
The former war correspondent participated in a an entirenewscast with students, after which he advised them on theimportance of acting natural and casual in front of the camera.
"You really have to be yourself, not some sort of reporter youwant to report like," he said. "Don't do the cookie-cutter,sing-songer anchor voice thing, because the audience will sense ifyou're being fake."
Cooper, anchor of Anderson Cooper 360, reported from Afghanistanduring the war after the Sept. 11 attacks, anchored during the liveconflict in Baghdad and interviewed Haiti President Jean-BertrandAristide. He anchored the live coverage of the Washington D.C.-areasniper and was also sent to Qatar, where he reported on the testingof CENTCOM's new mobile headquarters.
Before joining CNN, Cooper was an ABC news correspondent andhost of the network's reality program The Mole.
"I was so excited when I found out he was coming," said AshleyJames, senior broadcasting major. "I have been watching him sincehe was on Channel One and have followed his career since I was alittle girl."
